He is noted for his autodidactic research skills in the marine, ecology, and agricultural fields, not holding any formal educational qualification,[3] and for promoting a life of simplicity.

[5][6][7] The Government of India honored him in 2021, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.

Besides his mother tongue Divehi (Mahl), he learned English, Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic, Latin, French, Russian, German, Sinhalese, Persian, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu.

[3] While working with the marine biologist Dr. Santhappan Jones, Manikfan discovered a new fish species.

Jones, impressed by Ali's observation skills and his wide knowledge about marine life, called the species Abudefduf manikfani.

[3][8] Later, his knowledge was used for a paper describing the fish species in the Laccadive archipelago found in the specimen collections, on which he was listed as a co-author.

For his 15-acre (0.061 km2) land in Valliyur in Thirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, he produces his own electricity from a windmill which he designed himself.

In 1981 Ali Manikfan was given the responsibility of making a reconstruction of an ancient Arab trading ship, the Sohar, by Irish adventurer Tim Severin.

The ship, named after the city of Sohar in Oman, was completely hand-made, using traditional boat-building techniques, and no metal was used in its construction.

The calendar is based on the Qur'an (Sura IX, 36-37) and its proper observance is a sacred duty for Muslims.

Since there is no Hilal involved in his criterion it is widely criticized by the Muslim scholars and astronomers in India.

Though its maximum speed is only 35 km/h, Ali Manikfan claims it's far cheaper and efficient than a petrol-driven two-wheeler.

Moreover, he insists people on the either sides of the International Date Line to stand backwards to each other and face Qiblah at the opposite directions during prayer.